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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless...Denise O'Hara

My guest today is visiting More Agreeably Engaged for the first time. Denise O'Hara has several books to her credit and has recently released Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless. I believe there is a sequel in the works for a later date. Ms. O'Hara is sharing a thrilling excerpt with us and is also hosting a giveaway of this latest book. Please feel free to comment or ask questions as we get to know more about this lovely lady. She published her first book almost a year ago, February 28, 2015, and has been busy writing ever since! I hope you will join me in making Denise O'Hara feel welcome.

~~~~~~~~~~Excerpt-

Elizabeth ran back to the sitting room in the Gardiner’s
home, bursting through the door with all semblance of ladylike behavior forgotten.
“It is Father,” she managed to gasp. “I believe he overheard us talking and has
left to track down Wickham. I am afraid he will do something foolish!”

Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth were on the road in
Darcy’s carriage within mere moments, Elizabeth praying they would reach the
smallholding before her father or at least before he had time to act. A
commotion heard from a dilapidated old barn as the carriage pulled up had them
all racing in that direction and dashing inside, stopping dead as they took in
the terrible scene before them.

Mr. Bennet was shouting at Wickham, who had backed into a
corner of the barn. Behind him was a crying and hysterical Lydia, and in front
of him, he held his military issue weapon, pointed at Mr. Bennet.

“I know by your fine estate and clothing that you are simply
concealing your wealth so as to prevent handing it over in dowries.”

“How dare you try to
blackmail me with my own daughter’s virtue, you despicable blaggard!”

“I have already told
you, if you want me to marry her, you have to pay me to do so,” Wickham was
declaring coldly as they looked on, stunned by the events taking place. “Ah, I
see we have more company,” he sneered, spotting them. “Perhaps the good and
virtuous Mr. Darcy will lend you the funds; after all, it is no problem for
him, since he has such large coffers to draw upon.”

Darcy stepped slowly towards Mr. Bennet. “Gentlemen, please.
We must all keep our senses. Wickham, please put that thing away before you
cause even more damage than you already have.”

“Oh, no. You see, this,” he said while waving the pistol,
“this gives me the upper hand again. No more negotiating now that the old man
has decided to get involved in the business. I will not be forced into joining
myself to this hostile family for a mere ten thousand pounds. The price has
doubled. And I want it soon, or I leave and no one will ever marry or have
anything to do with your virtuous daughter again. And believe me, I use the
word virtuous loosely.”

Mr. Darcy looked from Wickham to the older gentleman and
spoke quietly. “Perhaps it would be best if you return to the Gardiners, Mr.
Bennet. As much as I respect you, I fear your entreaties will fall on deaf
ears. Please allow me to act in your behalf and try to reason with him.”

Mr. Bennet considered Darcy’s words, finally nodding his
head in agreement. “Lydia, come with me.”

“No, Papa! I want to stay with my husband!” she cried.

“Your husband?” asked her father. “Is this some kind of
trick? Are you in fact already married?”

Wickham laughed. “No,
I assure you, we are not married. I believe she means she has been acting as my
wife and so already considers me her husband. Is that not right, my dear?”

“Oh, yes, my love! We need only to have a rector pronounce
us so. We are already husband and wife in every other way!” answered the
foolish girl.

On hearing these vulgar words come from his own child’s
mouth and seeing the wicked smile cross Wickham’s face, Mr. Bennet rushed at
Wickham. He reached forward to wrestle the gun from Wickham’s grasp. As he did
so, the gun fired, the sound deafening in the small confines of the rickety old
building. Everybody froze in shock, holding their breath.

Elizabeth turned to Darcy, her eyes pleading, one hand
reaching out towards him. Confused by her expression and action, he
nevertheless took a few steps in her direction and reached to take her hand,
just as she collapsed to the ground at his feet.

“Elizabeth!”

He dropped to his knees, rolling her over to gather her in
his arms, and as he did so, everything made sense. A large crimson stain was
rapidly spreading across the front of her dress around a hole in the material
where the bullet had penetrated. He ripped the hole wider, revealing the
terrible wound to her abdomen.

“NO! Oh, Elizabeth, oh no!” he cried, gathering her closer
to him.

Mr. Bennet released Wickham to rush to his daughter’s side.
Wickham stood frozen in place, taking in the scene before him. On realizing
what he had just done, he darted from the barn, his regard for Elizabeth less
than his regard for himself. Lydia stood, her eyes wild, undecided where her
loyalties lay. In the end, she chose Wickham, dashing after him.

“Elizabeth, oh, my dear Lizzy, please do not leave me, I … I
love you,” Darcy murmured as he held Elizabeth close, his tears mingling with
the ruby red river that flowed from her body.

“I love … you,” she managed to whisper, before her eyes
closed and her body went limp in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~

Blurb-Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless takes our couple from their meeting again at Pemberley all the way to the year 2012. When Elizabeth is with the Gardiners in Derbyshire, she gets to see a different side of Darcy. Her letters from Jane are delayed by two additional days, changing the course of events that leads to our couple finding themselves in the modern world. There's a definite scientific element to the book but it's meant to be scientifically believable, rather than sci-fi. What would our favorite couple be like if we could meet them today? How would they adapt to this new time? How did they even get here from where they started?

~~~~~~~~~~Author Bio-

Denise O'Hara is a Southern girl married to an Irish Californian. When the petite green eyed brunette met the man with big brown eyes and dimples as deep as her daddy's black iron jambalaya pot, it was love at first sight. Twenty eight years later they're still having fun! They have two adult children and lots and lots of family nearby.

She has six sisters and her close bond with them certainly influenced her instant connection to Jane Austen's novels. She started writing JAFF February 28th of 2015. In her first three Life after the Wedding Series books she focused primarily on Jane Bingley. However, mirroring Denise's real life, Jane's sisters, especially Elizabeth Darcy, will always be an important part of her life. The Darcy's Host a Ball at Pemberley continued the former Bennet sister's story, with the Darcys and Bingleys celebrating anniversaries and their younger sisters finding love.A Few Good Men was the most recent installment in the Series, and part six will be out this summer. Denise has also written two Pride and Prejudice variations, Disdain and Deception and Yours Truly, Mr.Darcy. She currently has two other variations almost completed and the outline for the sequel to her newest release, Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless. The next book will be Timeless Adventures. It's been a busy year!

Thank you, Denise O'Hara, for stopping by today. Oh my, what an excerpt! I cannot wait to find out more! I feel sure my readers are as eager to learn the outcome as I am. I look forward to reading this book and its sequel. I hope you have much success with both. Thank you also for having the giveaway. My readers and I appreciate it.

The giveaway, Dear Readers, is international and is for two books. Yes, that is correct. There will be two winners and it will be the choice of each winner to select a paperback or an eBook. Isn't that a generous offering? You know the drill...leave me your contact info in your comment so that I may reach you in case you are one of the randomly selected winners. Thank you so much, Ms. O'Hara, for allowing the readers this opportunity. Giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on the 22nd of February. Good luck to all and thanks as always for your support of my blog. Please let me know your preference, eBook or Paperback, when you comment. Thanks.

I have this book and it will be read today. It was actually #4 in my TBR pile but this excerpt moved it up to the top. Well done, Denise. (I'm rubbing my hands together metaphorically, of course, as I'm still splinted up. #pureglee)

I'm always up for an element of time travel/time slip or something along those lines mixed in with my JAFF, so this sounds just up my street, so to speak. Denise is a new author to me, which is always a good thing.

I'm always up for an element of time travel/time slip or something along those lines mixed in with my JAFF, so this sounds just up my street, so to speak. Denise is a new author to me, which is always a good thing.

I hope you enjoy my spin, Anji! I tried to present our dear couple's experience as a real scientific possibility, rather than sci-fi. I love the thought of Darcy and Elizabeth exactly as they were in the 1800's having to now live in modern times.

I needed a year when Kate Middleton could be mentioned but also for there to be enough time for the continuing stories to take place. I have several outlines for the Timeless Adventures Series. 2012 fit the bill.

Now that sounds interesting! Usually with P&P and timetravel, only one of D&L is going to another time, but I would love to see them both in modern times! Thanks for the giveaway, I would love to win a paperback.

I know, poor Lizzy! I will tell you this, Ceri, I did try to write the time change as if it were a real possibility. What if geniuses like Einstein and other brilliant scientist had ancestors who were just as brilliant and were working on a secret project in Regency times?

I've been a fan of your writing since you released your first book. I was curious how a modern day story would work, but as usual you didn't disappoint! I couldn't put it down. I read it within hours. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan and now I look forward to reading your books as well. Keep them coming Denise O'hara.